Delphi Complete Works of the Brontes Charlotte, Emily, Anne Brontë (Illustrated) (283 page)

tion. the Earl was invited by his Grace to take the seat at his right hand which was vacant. at this flattering mark of distinction Colonel Percy who sat near the entrance of the tent amongst the junior officers was observed to smile with a peculiar expression.

“Now Gentlemen” said the Duke when all were assembled “I do not intend to detain you long, my motive for assembling you together was merely to obtain your approbation of a proposal for settling our black friends on the other side of the river in a few hours without I trust incurring much risk to our own army”

His Grace then proceeded to unfold a scheme for attacking the enemy’s camp at night when they would be wholly unable to make any adequate defence it having been ascertained by means of spies that their watch was not one of the most vigilant in the world, the advantages of this plan being obvious the council gave a unanimous opinion in its favour & the next night was assigned as the period for putting it into execution. Business being thus summarily disposed of the Duke proceeded to say “Since Gentlemen I have called you to-gether for an affair of such brevity some reparation is due. I hope therefore you will not refuse to partake with me of a soldier’s supper, it is prepared & now only waits your approach”

As he spoke the curtain at the upper end of the tent was withdrawn & revealed an inner pavillion brilliantly lighted in which was a long table covered with the material for an excellent & substantial though not perhaps a luxurious supper. All willingly accepted the invitation except the Marquis of Charlesworth who pleaded an inability to enjoy festivity as an excuse for declining it.

“I will not press you my lord” said the Duke kindly taking his hand but remember that solitude nourishes grief” the old man’s only reply was a mournful shake of the head. “That poor fellow has had a heavy stroke in his old age” observed Colonel Percy who happened to be seated next to St Clair at supper he has lost a very pretty & accomplished neice in a most unaccount-
^a
ble manner”

Has he?” said the Earl eyeing his neighbour with a glance that
^m
’ght have struck terror to the heart of a lion.

“Yes” pursued the Colonel in a tone of the most provoking calmness “Ah she was a sweet girl rather capricious though as most women are, one of her fancies was particularly absurd” “What might that be?” asked St Clair.

“Why you’ll hardly believe it when I tell you, she took it into her head to fall in love with a poor, silly, sneaking puppy of a painter & for some time declared she would marry him in preference to the nephew & heir of a duke but at length the latter lover prevailed & then the little witch confessed she had only been playing the coquette to try her suitors fidelity & that in reality she despised the man of canvass as much as she did the meanest of his sign-post daubs”

The flush which crimsoned St Clair’s cheek & brow & the light which sparkled in his fierce eyes would have quelled the insolence of any ordinary man but they only increased that of the demi fiend who sat by rejoicing in his agony.

“You are not subject to apoplectic fits are you sir?” said he gazing on him with affected wonder.

“No replied the Earl suppressing his wrath by a strong effort “but Sir how will the successful lover bear the loss of his intended bride?”

“Oh, they say he displays a laudable degree of resignation under the affliction”

“Then his affection for her was a pretence?” “No I don’t say that but you know my lord he is perhaps better acquainted with her whereabouts than other people. Hum, don’t you understand me?” “Indeed I do not”

“Why then to speak more plainly, some folks don’t hesitate to say that she has eloped”

“Sir” said the Earl in a low deep voice “Let me tell you I am in some degree acquainted with the parties we have been conversing about & let me tell you further that if I were her uncle & entertained the least suspicion of the kind you hint at I would cause the infernal scoundrel her lover to be torn limb from limb by wild horses or force him to tell me where the unhappy creature is concealed”‘

“Ha! Would you” said the colonel while a cloud at once fell on his brow & he instinctively grasped the weapon at his side but almost directly after he muttered “the hour is not yet arrived” & his countenance resumed its former state of deceitful composure.

The dishes were now removed & wine was introduced. after the first few rounds the Duke of Wellington rising from his seat at the head of the table “begged to be excused from a longer stay at the festive boardf’. he then drank to the health of all his guests & bidding them good night withdrew. St Clair who was in no mood for joining in the riotous mirth that now became the principal characteristic of the military mess took the first opportunity of following his example.

the night was still & calm, its dewy coolness & the mild moonlight which was poured down upon him at intervals as he wandered among the silent tents & through the dark groves which waved with scarce visible motion along the river’s shelving banks served in a great measure to soothe his roused & exaggerated passions. But not all the deep tranquility which fell like balm from the blue starry sky Not all the images of rest & serenity which a sweet summer’s night ever creates could bring corresponding peace to his love tortured heart, or expel the worm of jealousy that now gnawed his very vitals. To be despised by her for whom he could have given his life’s blood, to be the object of her derision & scorn, to have all his suspicions of her good faith so fearfully verified, was worse than death to his proud haughty spirit. As he stood on the river’s brink & looked down on the deep clear waters which flowed so gently & wooingly at his feet he longed to cool the delirium of his brain by a spring into their liquid freshness, putting aside however this suggestion of the tempter & half- despising himself for being so moved by the false-heartedness of a fickle woman he turned from the stream & proceeded towards his own tent. just as he was about to enter it a voice whispered in his ear, Beware of Percy, it is a friend who warns you.” The Earl looked hastily round ; he saw a dark figure gliding away which was soon lost >n the shadow of a lofty cluster of palm trees.

For a long time after he had laid himself on his deer skin couch that
ⁿⁱ
ght, Slumber refused to visit his aching eyelids, the warning of his unknown friend, joined to the other subjects of deep & intense thought which filled his distracted mind for some hours effectually nished sleep from his pillow. But at last wearied nature being quite worn out was compelled to seek refuge in temporary repose. Scarcely had kindly oblivion fallen over the sorrows which oppressed him when a long & peculiarly shrill whistle sounded without the tent. Andrew who till this moment had been apparently fast asleep in a corner now softly & cautiously left his couch & taking up a small lamp stept on tip-toe to his master’s bed-side, having ascertained that he was really slumbering by holding the light to his closed eyes &c. the page wrapped himself in a green plaid & without noise left the tent, at the outside a man was standing whose blue coat & livried hat showed him to be the same person that had abducted Andrew about a month since. Without a word spoken both walked or rather stole away towards a neighbouring grove the footman leading the way & beckoning Andrew to follow, here they were joined by another figure in a cloak. All three then proceeded down the river & in a few minutes the intervening trees entirely concealed them from view.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH

“Well my lord the day is ours at last, but we’ve had a hard tug for the victory - upon my word those black rascals fought like devils”

“They did indeed & I think their overthrow considering all the circumstances of the case may be accounted almost a miracle.”

“Truly it may. by the bye St Clair I shall hold a second council of war this Evening, those circumstances you allude to require explanation, they must be carefully looked into, you will attend of course?”

“Certainly my lord”

such was the brief dialogue between St Clair & the Duke of Wellington as the latter rode by with his staff. A bloody but decisive victory had just been gained over the Ashantee though in a manner different from what had been at first intended. At eleven o’clock of the night appointed for the secret attack, the Duke of Wellington crossed the Senegal at the head of his whole army. As they drew near the hostile camp not a voice whispered, not a light glimmered among the long silent rows of snow white tents, unopposed they held on their course to Quashie’s own pavillion. they entered, it was empty, a short

space of time sufficed to ascertain that not a living thing save themselves remained in all the deserted camp. Those who were near the Duke when this discovery was made said that for a few moments his countenance expressed a depth of disappointment akin to despair, he recovered himself however almost directly & ordered scouts to disperse instantly in every direction & find out which way the enemy was gone. Ere long some of them returned with the information that they had marched northward & were now halting about ten miles off. The army immediately received orders to take the route indicated which led up the valley.

About day break they arrived at a wild mountain pass, through which might be seen a vast plain where the allied forces of the Moors Ashantees & Abyssinians, were all drawn up in battle array. It was a gorgeous but terrific spectacle as the first sunbeams flashed on that dusky host & lighted up to fiercer radiance their bright weapons & all the barbarous magnificence of gold & gems in which most of the warriors were attired, as the Duke’s Army with himself at their head filed slowly forward through the narrow gorge, a young horseman sped suddenly to the front of the African array & waving his long lance in the air exclaimed “Freedom would this night have received her death stab from the hand of the White Tyrant had not a traitor arisen in the Camp of Oppression” with these words he plunged again into the ranks & disappeared but not before the golden diadem glittering on his forehead had revealed the arch-rebel Quashie.

The contest which then ensued & which dyed the plains of Camalia with blood I need not describef: it is a matter of History. Suffice it to say that of the twenty-five thousand gallant rebels whom the sun’s nsing rays had that morning lighted to the contest high in hope & strong in valour the bodies of seventeen thousand eight hundred ere evening lay cold & still on a lost field of battle waiting till the vultures of Gibbel Kumri should scent the banquet from afar & grant them a living sepulchre in their devouring maws.

Our hero St Clair had played one of the mostconspicuous parts in the days tragedy. Reckless of Life which was now hateful to him he ought glory at the head of his brave Highlanders wherever the fight raged thickest & almost wished that the renown his dauntless courage was certain to earn might ring through the world whilst he himself lay in the voiceless tomb shrouded in his last garments & hushed to repose in the slumber from which none can awake. Fate however had decreed otherwise, the scymitar of the turbaned moor, the war spear of the savage Ashantee & even the renowned arrow of the quivered Abyssinian seemed all to have lost their powers of destruction when turned against him & when the battle was past & he with his little army slowly retraced their steps over the gory plain, it was with feelings approaching to envy that he viewed the ghastly corpses which pale & mangled lay scattered around.

On arriving at his own tent he called Andrew to assist him in changing his soiled & bloody dress, the page however did not obey this summons & after waiting sometime in expectation of his appearance he was obliged to manage as well as he could without any aid. having completed his toilette & partaken of some refreshment, he hastened as it was now late to attend the council. A profound silence pervaded the pavillion as he entered broken only by an occasional whisper. The Duke was sitting at the head of the table in an unusually pensive & meditative posture, his head resting on his hand, his brows contracted & an expression of deep solemnity diffused over his whole countenance. When St Clair was seated he looked up & glanced quickly round as if to ascertain that all the members were assembled then rising he proceed to address them briefly thus.

“Gentlemen the cause for which you are convened this night is of the last’ importance, it is to make an enquiry which will involve the life and honnour of some individual or individuals amongst you. Two days ago a plan was broached in this place for attacking our enemies by night: they obtained intelligence of it & it was frustrated. Our business is now to discover how that intelligence reached them. I grieve to say that the words which you all heard the rebel-leader utter this day in the face of both armies have raised the horrible suspicion in my mind that it was by treachery. The traitor must be in this appartment & if he will now confess his guilt I solemnly promise to spare his life, but if he leaves it to be found out by another, then a death the most painful & dishonourable shall be his.”

The Duke ceased. his stern & keen eye scrutinized the counten

ances of all who surrounded him one by one as if he would by that means have read the thoughts passing in every heart. For some minutes not a word was spoken ; each regarded his neighbour with a visage in which awe, curiosity & aimless suspicion were strangely mingled. The dim torchlight of the pavillion however showed one person whose calm & noble features displayed none of these emotions but on the contrary something like a lurking smile played round the corners of his mouth, it was Colonel Percy, in a short time he rose & advancing to the table where the duke sat said in a low voice “ Will your grace permit me to speak?” “Certainly” was the reply.

“Then” continued the Colonel drawing his tall form up to the fullness of its majestic height, & cooly folding his arms “I have it in my power to reveal the wretch who betrayed his general & his comrades but before I mention the craven’s name he shall have one more opportunity of saving his worthless life. Conscience stricken Traitor step forward & avail yourself of that mercy which is even now passing away never to return “

a breathless pause followed this awful appeal, not a whisper sounded, not a foot or hand moved .

“You will not accept the offered boon?” said Percy in deep thrilling tones “then your blood be upon your own head, My lord,” he went on turning to the Duke while a supernatural light rose in his triumphant glance, “know that the base traitor sits at your right hand, yes the most Noble Ronald, Lord of St Clair, & cheiftain of Clan Albyn, has been bribed by the negro’s wealth to blot with treachery a scutcheon owned by a hundred Earls”

One universal exclamation of “impossible” broke forth at this strange accusation. Each member of the council started from his seat & an expression of astonishment amounting almost to horror appeared in every countenance. The Duke & St Clair alone sat unmoved.

“Sir” said the former calmly but somewhat sternly “The most ample proof of this bold charge must be furnished, or that punishment intended for the accused shall recoil upon the accuser”

“I accept your grace’s alternative” replied the Colonel bowing low “testimony is not wanting but first let me ask his lordship if he denies the charge”

“No” replied the Earl in a tone of startling vehemence, while he sprung from his seat as if actuated by some overmastering impulse, “No I scorn to deny the hellish falsehood, but I will prove its baseness on that tool of Satan with my sword”

as he spoke he snatched the weapon from its scabbard. “Gentlemen” said Percy wholly undisturbed by this action “that sword condemns him. mark it well & then tell me if such a one ought to be in the hands of a British Soldier.”

All eyes turned on the glittering blade, it was a curved Moorish scymitar the handle richly decorated with gems of the highest value.

“that certainly has not been purchased in Verdopolis my lord” said the Duke after examining it. “how did you obtain it?”

“I know not” replied St Clair regarding the weapon with evident surprise “it is not my own - I never saw it till this moment”

“Recollect yourself” continued his friendly Judge. “Did you take it up by mistake on the field of battle?” The Earl shook his head.

“Perhaps” observed Colonel Percy with a sneer “I could inform his lordship how it came into his possession, if your Grace will allow me to produce my witness.”

The Duke signified his assent & Percy advancing towards the tent door called out “Travers bring in the prisoner”. this summons was answered by the appearance of a footman leading a boy whose keen eye & shrivelled, ill-favoured features instantly proclaimed him to be no other than our friend Andrew.

“How is this?” exclaimed St Clair stepping back in amazement, “Why is that boy in your custodyf? I claim him as my vassal & as his liege lord have a right to know of what he is accused”

“he shall inform you himself my lord” said the Colonel significantlyf.

“No” interposed the Duke. “I should like to hear it from you Sir m the first place.”

“I found him my lord” returned Percy “beyond the proscribed boundaries of the camp early yesterday morning when I was going m>

rounds as officer of the watchf. on questioning him where he had been, he appeared much agitated & returned no answers but such as were inconsistent & evidently false. I then threatened to punish him severely if he did not speak the truth, this had the desired effect, he immediately confessed that he had been to the African Tents, further questions extorted from him the information on which I have grounded my charge against his master & which he is now ready to communicate to your Grace”

“Andrew “ said the Duke “come here, will you promise to answer me truly such questions as I shall now ask?”

“I will” said the boy laying his hand on his heart with great apparent sincerity.

“By whom then were you sent to the Ashantee Camp?” “By my lord the Chief.” “What forP”

“To deliver a paper which was sealed & directed to Quashie the second King of the liberated Africans” “Had you ever been there before?” “yes once.” “When?” “That same night” “& why did you go then?”

f”I was sent to ask for a certain reward which Quashie had promised my master some time before in case he would tell him of all that passed in such councils as he should attend” “Did you hear that promise made?” “Yes”

“at What time?”

the first night after we arrived here a black man came to my lord’s tent & offered him twelve ackies? (I think he called it) of rock gold if he would do as he wanted him,” “And your master consented?”

“Did you see Quashie When you went to his Camp?” Yes”

“What was he likef?”

“He was a young man & very tall, his nose & lips were not flat & thick like the other blacks & he spoke English.”

“The description you have given is very correctf. now tell me what the reward was you carried to your master.”

“There was a black box filled with something very heavy, a large mantle made of different couloured silk & a sword which Quashie took from his own belt” “Describe the sword”

“It was crooked, almost like a sickle & had a great many precious stones about the handle”

here a general murmur of surprise broke from the bystanders. the Duke however sternly rebuked them & went on.

“Do you know where the black box & silk mantle were put?” “Yes my master commanded me to dig a hole in the centre of the tent & bury them there.”

“Bobadil” said his Grace, “take one or two men with you to the Earl’s tent & see if you can find these articles,”

Bobadil made a deep & silent reverence & departed to execute his commission. General Leaf now advanced to the table.